Kim was sitting at the table talking to Alex. She saw Jimmy walk in and left. Jimmy sat down next to Alex.
"What was that about?" Jimmy asked. He knew it had to do with him trying to get custody of Joey. But Kim had to understand that he was trying to do what was best for their son. He didn't trust Kim anymore. She was unstable. He was tired of everyone saying that she was getting better. Cause from what he saw, she wasn't. She looked like she was more depressed each day. He didn't need Joey around that. Joey had enough to deal with already.
"You know what that was about. You're trying to take away her son. She's getting help Jimmy. I don't know what your sudden interest in getting Joey back is, but I think it's low. Even for you," Alex retorted. She hated taking sides, but Jimmy was wrong. Kim was getting better. Joey was the one thing that kept her going. And Jimmy never had any interest in having Joey till now. She didn't know what his intentions were.
"You have no right to judge me like that. He's my son too. Kim screwed up. I trusted her to take care of Joey and then she tries to kill herself with him in the house. A stable person wouldn't do that. I really don't think she's getting better. She looks even more depressed each day. She looks like she hasn't eaten or slept in weeks. I just can't trust her with my son anymore," Jimmy replied. He shouldn't have to sit here and explain himself to Alex. Joey was his son and he had every right to have full custody of him.
"You can say what you want, but I still think you're wrong," Alex said. She got up and went upstairs to check on Kim.
"Hey Kim. How are you holding up?" Alex asked. She sat down next to Kim. She could tell she had been crying. She hated being in the middle of the drama between Jimmy and Kim. But that was the hazard of being both of their friends.
"I'm fine Alex. You don't have to worry about me," Kim replied. She sighed softly. She knew Alex was trying to help, but all she wanted was to be alone right now. She was so scared that she was going to lose Joey. She didn't know what she'd do without Joey.
"Did you ever think that Jimmy really is trying to do what's best for Joey? I'm not taking his side, but he's worried about what might happen. He doesn't want Joey to get hurt again. I know you don't believe that, and I don't know why I believe it. I just know that Jimmy wouldn't use his son to hurt you," Alex answered. She looked at Kim. She couldn't tell if she was mad or upset. Both of them weren't good.
"I don't know. I just feel like he's doing this to punish me for what I did. I know what I did was wrong. But do I really deserve to lose my son over that?" Kim asked. She still had trouble believing that Jimmy was trying to do what was best for Joey. Every time he showed interest in Joey was when he was mad at her. She didn't know if she could handle losing Joey. She had already lost Bobby.
"It just seems to me that Jimmy really is worried about Joey. I think he wants to be able to be a father to him. I know he hasn't been a good father to Joey in the past, but maybe he's changed. Maybe Joey would be better off with Jimmy for now. Just until you get better," Alex said. She hoped Kim didn't get mad at her for saying this. But she found herself more on Jimmy's side now that she had listened to what he said. And he was right. Kim did look worse. It did look like she wasn't sleeping or eating. She just hoped that all of this drama would be over with soon. She was tired of feeling like she was being a bad friend whenever she took the other's side.
"I still don't think Jimmy's responsible enough to take care of Joey," Kim said. She went back downstairs. She was tired of talking about this. She just wanted to be alone and clear her head. She wanted to forget about all of this. She walked outside and saw Jimmy standing next to the side of the building. She was about to turn around and go back inside, but he stopped her.
"Kim, we really need to talk. I hate us fighting. I know I hurt by doing this, but I want to make sure that Joey is safe. And right now I'm not so sure that he's safe with you. That last time he was with you, you tried to kill yourself. And I'm tired of you saying it was an accident. Because you and I both know it wasn't. No body accidentally downs a bottle of sleeping pills with red wine," Jimmy said. He looked at Kim silently, waiting for her to respond. He could tell he had hurt her by saying that, but they both knew it was the truth. He just wished she'd stop shutting him out and let him help her. He hated seeing her like this. And he knew she wasn't over Bobby's death. She wouldn't be for a while.
"I'm trying Jimmy. I really am. I just don't want to lose my son," Kim answered. She felt tears roll down her face. She didn't want Jimmy to see her cry. But she really didn't want to lose Joey. She was trying to get better. She really was. She got rid of all her alcohol and sleeping pills. She would never do anything like that again. At least she hoped she wouldn't. She just didn't know what to do. She felt like there was no other way to get rid of the pain. And losing Joey wouldn't help. It would only make things worse. Joey was the reason she was trying to get better. He was the reason she stopped drinking and the reason she got up in the morning. Things wouldn't be the same if he wasn't around her house. She was so used to taking care of him.
"I know you're trying. But you're still not there yet. Sometimes you look so down. Like you might try something stupid again. I'm scared that Joey will walk in on that again, but this time he'll lose you. I don't want him to go through that. I just want to make sure your better before Joey stays with you," Jimmy explained. He gently wiped away Kim's tears. He didn't want to do this to her. He kept wondering everyday if he was doing the right thing. He felt so bad. Like he might make her snap by doing this or something. But he had to think of what was best for Joey, not just what was best for Kim.
"Listen. Maybe we can drop the case. Just let me take Joey till you get better. You'll still get to see him. And you'll still have custody of him. He just won't be staying with you until you get better," Jimmy said. He really hoped she'd go for this. This was the best he could do. This was the only thing he could think of to do what was best for both Joey and Kim.
"Okay," Kim said. She didn't like it. But she knew that was the best Jimmy would do. She knew he wouldn't drop the case unless she let Joey stay with him until she was better. She just hoped that it'd be soon.
TBC…